New Cabo Bride - now what????? Tiny wedding (only 10 people)

I just got engaged, and am planning my destination wedding to Cabo. I have never been to Cabo(But fiance has been 5+ times) and wont' be having a big elaborate wedding. It will only be immediate family/friends (8-12 people total including groom and bride!).

I just booked our lodgings (We are renting the penthouse apartment at Terrasol - that used to be owned by Oscar de la hoya - it is absolutely breathtaking 3 bed 3 bath penthouse apartment with oceanfront view to the Pacific ocean.

I am a DIY simple bride, in my 40's, and this isn't my first wedding (3rd both both groom and I). They say 3rd time's the charm! We want an intimate symbolic wedding ceremony and a fun dinner/reception (with plans to have our civil ceremony when we return from cabo). I am thinking about having the ceremony on the deck at our penthouse, and then dinner/reception at one of the local oceanview restaurants. Although I may be persuaded to a beach ceremony near the restaurant or in combination with the restaurant (Mona lisa looks amazing! I have emailed them but haven't heard back yet.

I need just the basics (Officiant, restaurant recommendations, transportation to and from restaurant, hair/makeup for bride and bride's sister, flowers, acoustic guitar trio and that is it.

Any suggestions? I could really use the guidance. I don't think I need a coordinator for such a simple small event, but I have reached otu to Karla, and another local coordinator requesting help and proposal - but also haven't heard back from them... how come people are so slow to respond? probably because they can see I am not a big budget bride....

Therefore I am relying on all of you - if you have any tips, tricks, suggestions that can help me I would really appreciate it!

Hi everyone, I just got engaged, and am planning my destination wedding to Cabo. I have never been to Cabo(But fiance has been 5+ times) and wont' be having a big elaborate wedding. It will only be immediate family/friends (8-12 people total including groom and bride!). I just booked our lodgings (We are renting the penthouse apartment at Terrasol - that used to be owned by Oscar de la hoya - it is absolutely breathtaking 3 bed 3 bath penthouse apartment with oceanfront view to the Pacific ocean. I am a DIY simple bride, in my 40's, and this isn't my first wedding (3rd both both groom and I). They say 3rd time's the charm! We want an intimate symbolic wedding ceremony and a fun dinner/reception (with plans to have our civil ceremony when we return from cabo). I am thinking about having the ceremony on the deck at our penthouse, and then dinner/reception at one of the local oceanview restaurants. Although I may be persuaded to a beach ceremony near the restaurant or in combination with the restaurant (Mona lisa looks amazing! I have emailed them but haven't heard back yet. I need just the basics (Officiant, restaurant recommendations, transportation to and from restaurant, hair/makeup for bride and bride's sister, flowers, acoustic guitar trio and that is it. Any suggestions? I could really use the guidance. I don't think I need a coordinator for such a simple small event, but I have reached otu to Karla, and another local coordinator requesting help and proposal - but also haven't heard back from them... how come people are so slow to respond? probably because they can see I am not a big budget bride.... Therefore I am relying on all of you - if you have any tips, tricks, suggestions that can help me I would really appreciate it! K

Congrats on your wedding! I'm def not the expert and am getting married at a resort, but def check out Suzanne morel for hair and makeup.

Congratulations on getting married in Cabo! October will be warm and gorgeous here. You are right on the mark with Sunset de Mona Lisa restaurant. They have many weddings there each year and the view is sensational. The food is exquisite and it is incredibly romantic. I too had short listed this location, have you checked your junk/spam folder? I had that problem when I contacted them a few months ago. I found their email in my junk folder.

I live here in Cabo fulltime so I would love to help you as much as possible. Since I live here I am also doing a lot of DIY. I am planning to get my roses at Costco and hand tying them myself the night before. So many people on BDW have suggested this. I'm going to pick the roses up the day before allow them to open overnight then assemble the next day. If you want a professional bouquet I would recommend looking at some of the photographers websites for bouquets.

I would only recommend Suzanne Morel for makeup and hair. I have used Neysa on 2 occasions and have been very disappointed. Call Suzanne and speak with her, she always answers all your questions is incredibly professional and you will look amazing!! I use her regularly for special events and for spa services as well. Suzanne details everything in writing and emails it off for your approval. Suzanne has been here in Cabo the longest, has the best reputation and really built the wedding makeup and hair industry in Cabo. Personally for me, she is the only choice.

It could be that we are in the thick of wedding season that people are not getting back to you or also what you mentioned that you are a small wedding. My wedding party is the same amount of people so 10 -12 so if your bridesmaids don't mind they could help with your tablescape and other decorating should you choose.

On the music and officiant I'll have to get back to you I'm still doing a bit of research too. Hope some of this helps. My advice is to book all vendors early, October and November gets really busy for weddings too.

We visited Cabo in October and it was outrageously hot! We live in Florida and I was burning up in Cabo....but some people like it this way...just keep it in mind if you are you considering getting married in October. It is the off season so you may get some good deals

Sunset de Mona Lisa is really nice and the food is delicious. They have an upper area that serves gourmet pizza, sandwiches and apps and the food there is super good too...just a less fancy than the lower restaurant. It is really pretty in the bar though and you get a great view either way.

A lot of the resorts have wedding packages that include the flowers, officiant, music, decor, etc. You may want to look into them. We chose to have our wedding at Hacienda Cocina y Cantina. We love their food and they have a great view. We are getting married on the beach in front of the restaurant...they have a great view too (I personally like it better than Sunset de Mona Lisa but it's a matter of opinion). Hacienda Cocina y Cantina has a really pretty room called Salon Colonia which is gorgeous...that's where were having our reception. It's a small intimate round room and has really pretty lighting and it's seperate from the general public.

We are having a smaller wedding too and it took forever for planners to respond. I finally had a very nice english speaking planner contact me, her name is Tammy (Cabo Wedding Services). She does small weddings too and she is great.

We met with Suzanne Morel because I had seen her work and loved it but she was a complete Byotch when we met with her. I would not recommend her at all. She was not happy that our wedding was so small (10-30 people) and wanted me to still pay $5,000 plus for her help with decor and rentals. I have heard that her assistant is great and super friendly but I refuse to go through her because of how rude she was....so we're going with Blanc Salon. She has been really nice to work with and has reasonable prices.

Congratulations on getting married in Cabo! October will be warm and gorgeous here. You are right on the mark with Sunset de Mona Lisa restaurant. They have many weddings there each year and the view is sensational. The food is exquisite and it is incredibly romantic. I too had short listed this location, have you checked your junk/spam folder? I had that problem when I contacted them a few months ago. I found their email in my junk folder.

I live here in Cabo fulltime so I would love to help you as much as possible. Since I live here I am also doing a lot of DIY. I am planning to get my roses at Costco and hand tying them myself the night before. So many people on BDW have suggested this. I'm going to pick the roses up the day before allow them to open overnight then assemble the next day. If you want a professional bouquet I would recommend looking at some of the photographers websites for bouquets.

I would only recommend Suzanne Morel for makeup and hair. I have used Neysa on 2 occasions and have been very disappointed. Call Suzanne and speak with her, she always answers all your questions is incredibly professional and you will look amazing!! I use her regularly for special events and for spa services as well. Suzanne details everything in writing and emails it off for your approval. Suzanne has been here in Cabo the longest, has the best reputation and really built the wedding makeup and hair industry in Cabo. Personally for me, she is the only choice.

It could be that we are in the thick of wedding season that people are not getting back to you or also what you mentioned that you are a small wedding. My wedding party is the same amount of people so 10 -12 so if your bridesmaids don't mind they could help with your tablescape and other decorating should you choose.

On the music and officiant I'll have to get back to you I'm still doing a bit of research too. Hope some of this helps. My advice is to book all vendors early, October and November gets really busy for weddings too.

I haven't seen fresh flowers at Walmart here so I don't think that is an option. I have seen mixed bouquets of white lillies and I've also seen calla lillies. Mostly Costco sells mixed bouquets (gerbers, lillies and roses) and then usually calla lillies in their own bouquets as well as roses 18 - 24 in a bunch. If you are really set on exactly what flowers you want this option probably isn't for you. But if you are willing to mix and match your bouquets for your BMs then this is an option to save some $$. My colors are white, pale pink and lavendar and each time I've gone into Costco (every few weeks) I see those colors in roses, so I know that we can make mixed bouquets with those colors for my BMs. We'll do smaller bouquets for them and a large bouquet for mine. I'll get pics and prices in the next two weeks and post for you.